Nasal delivery

ABSTRACT

A nasal delivery device for and method of delivering substance to a nasal cavity of a subject, the delivery device comprising: a nosepiece unit including a nosepiece for fitting to a nostril of a subject and a nozzle through which substance is in use delivered, preferably substantially axially to a longitudinal axis of the nosepiece, to the respective nasal cavity, wherein at least a tip element of the nosepiece has, at least in one configuration, an elongate lateral section which has a longer dimension in a first, sagittal direction than a second direction orthogonal to the sagittal direction, such that, when the nosepiece is inserted in the nasal cavity of the subject, the longer dimension of the nosepiece acts to engage lower and upper surfaces of the nasal cavity, preferably at the nasal valve, and expand the same in the sagittal plane; and a delivery unit for delivering substance through the nozzle of the nosepiece.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser.No. 12/281,894, filed on Jun. 12, 2009, which is a U.S. national phaseapplication of PCT/IB07/01709, filed on Mar. 6, 2007, which in turnclaims priority to GB 0604444.0, filed on Mar. 6, 2006.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a nasal delivery device for and amethod of delivering a substance, in particular one of a liquid, as asuspension or solution, or a powder containing a medicament, especiallysystemic or topical pharmaceuticals, or a vaccine to the nasal airway ofa subject.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1( a), the nasal airway 1 comprises the two nasalcavities separated by the nasal septum, which airway 1 includes numerousostia, such as the paranasal sinus ostia 3 and the tubal ostia 5, andolfactory cells, and is lined by the nasal mucosa. The nasal airway 1can communicate with the nasopharynx 7, the oral cavity 9 and the lowerairway 11, with the nasal airway 1 being in selective communication withthe anterior region of the nasopharynx 7 and the oral cavity 9 byopening and closing of the oropharyngeal velum 13. The velum 13, whichis often referred to as the soft palate, is illustrated in solid line inthe closed position, as achieved by providing a certain positivepressure in the oral cavity 9, such as achieved on exhalation throughthe oral cavity 9, and in dashed line in the open position.

There are many nasal conditions which require treatment. One suchcondition is nasal inflammation, specifically rhinitis, which can beallergic or non-allergic and is often associated with infection andprevents normal nasal function. By way of example, allergic andnon-allergic inflammation of the nasal airway can typically effectbetween 10 and 20% of the population, with nasal congestion of theerectile tissues of the nasal concha, lacrimation, secretion of waterymucus, sneezing and itching being the most common symptoms. As will beunderstood, nasal congestion impedes nasal breathing and promotes oralbreathing, leading to snoring and sleep disturbance. Other nasalconditions include nasal polyps which arise from the paranasal sinuses,hypertrophic adenoids, secretory otitis media, sinus disease and reducedolfaction.

In the treatment of certain nasal conditions, the topical administrationof medicaments is preferable, particularly where the nasal mucosa is theprime pathological pathway, such as in treating or relieving nasalcongestion. Medicaments that are commonly topically delivered includedecongestants, anti-histamines, cromoglycates, steroids and antibiotics.At present, among the known anti-inflammatory pharmaceuticals, topicalsteroids have been shown to have an effect on nasal congestion. Topicaldecongestants have also been suggested for use in relieving nasalcongestion. The treatment of hypertrophic adenoids and chronic secretoryotitis media using topical decongestants, steroids and anti-microbialagents, although somewhat controversial, has also been proposed.Further, the topical administration of pharmaceuticals has been used totreat or at least relieve symptoms of inflammation in the anteriorregion of the nasopharynx, the paranasal sinuses and the auditory tubes.

Medicaments can also be systemically delivered through the nasalpathway, the nasal pathway offering a good administration route for thesystemic delivery of pharmaceuticals, such as hormones, for example,oxytocin and calcitonin, and analgetics, such as anti-migrainecompositions, as the high blood flow and large surface area of the nasalmucosa advantageously provides for rapid systemic uptake.

Nasal delivery is also expected to be advantageous for theadministration of medicaments requiring a rapid onset of action, forexample, analgetics, anti-emetics, insulin, anti-epileptics, sedativesand hypnotica, and also other pharmaceuticals, for example,cardio-vascular drugs. It is envisaged that nasal administration willprovide for a fast onset of action, at a rate similar to that ofinjection and at a rate much faster than that of oral administration.Indeed, for the treatment of many acute conditions, nasal administrationis advantageous over oral administration, since gastric stasis canfurther slow the onset of action following oral administration.

It is also expected that nasal delivery could provide an effectivedelivery route for the administration of proteins and peptides asproduced by modern biotechnological techniques. For such substances, themetabolism in the intestines and the first-pass-effect in the liverrepresent significant obstacles for reliable and cost-efficientdelivery.

Furthermore, it is expected that nasal delivery using the nasal deliverytechnique of the present invention will prove effective in the treatmentof many common neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's,psychiatric diseases and intracerebral infections, where not possibleusing existing techniques. The nasal delivery technique of the presentinvention allows for delivery to the olfactory region, which region islocated in the superior region of the nasal cavities and represents theonly region where it is possible to circumvent the blood-to-brainbarrier (BBB) and enable communication with the cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) and the brain.

Also, it is expected that the nasal delivery technique of the presentinvention will allow for the effective delivery of vaccines.

Aside from the delivery of medicaments, the irrigation of the nasalmucosa with liquids, in particular saline solutions, is commonlypractised to remove particles and secretions, as well as to improve themucociliary activity of the nasal mucosa. These solutions can be used incombination with active pharmaceuticals.

For any kind of drug delivery, accurate and reliable dosing isessential, but it is of particular importance in relation to theadministration of potent drugs which have a narrow therapeutic window,drugs with potentially serious adverse effects and drugs for thetreatment of serious and life-threatening conditions. For someconditions, it is essential to individualize the dosage to theparticular situation, for example, in the case of diabetes mellitus. Fordiabetes, and, indeed, for many other conditions, the dosage of thepharmaceutical is preferably based on actual real-time measurements.Currently, blood samples are most frequently used, but the analysis ofmolecules in the exhalation breath of subjects has been proposed as analternative to blood analysis for several conditions. Breath analysis iscurrently used for the diagnosis of conditions such as helicobacterpylori infections which cause gastric ulcers.

WO-A-00/51672 discloses a delivery device for delivering a substance, inparticular a medicament, in a bi-directional flow through the nasalcavities, that is, an air flow which passes into one nostril, around theposterior margin of the nasal septum and in the opposite direction outof the other nostril. This bi-directional air flow advantageously actsto stimulate the sensory nerves in the nasal mucosa, therebyconditioning the subject for the delivery and providing a morecomfortable delivery situation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an aim of the present invention to provide nasal delivery devicesand nasal delivery methods for providing for the improved delivery ofsubstance to a nasal cavity of subject.

One particular aim of the present invention is to optimize the shape,direction and particle distribution of the plume of a delivered dose, inorder to reach targeted regions and reduce deposition outside theseregions.

Another particular aim of the present invention is to provide forimproved targeting of specific regions of the nasal airway and improvedreproducibility and consistency of dosing.

The present inventors have recognized that an increased delivery ofsubstance to the posterior region of the nasal airway, and in particularthe upper posterior region of the nasal airway, as illustrated in FIG.1( b), relative to the anterior region of the nasal airway, surprisinglyprovides for a disproportionately greater CNS effect, which issuggestive of a greater uptake of substance into the CNS than would bepredicted from the blood plasma concentration of the substance.

The posterior region of the nasal airway is that region which isposterior of the nasal valve NV, as illustrated in FIG. 1( b).

The nasal valve NV comprises the anterior bony cavum which containsinferior turbinate erectile tissue and septal erectile tissue, which aresupported respectively by compliant ala tissue and the rigidcartilaginous septum (Cole). These elements combine to form a dynamicvalve, which extends over several millimetres, that adjusts nasalairflow, and is stabilized by cartilage and bone, modulated by voluntarymuscle and regulated by erectile tissue. The lumen of the nasal valve NVis the section of narrowest cross-sectional area between the posteriorand anterior regions of the nasal airway, and is much longer andnarrower dorsally than ventrally, and this lumen defines a triangularentrance which extends to the piriform region of the bony cavum. Thenasal valve NV is lined in its anterior part with transitionalepithelium, with a gradual transition posterior to respiratoryepithelium. The nasal valve NV and anterior vestibule define roughly theanterior one-third of the nose.

In human subjects, the upper lateral wall of the nasal valve NVcollapses to form a collapsed region, as illustrated in FIG. 1( b),which significantly narrows the upper part of the nasal valve NV andobstructs access to the upper posterior region of the nasal cavity, andin particular the olfactory region. This collapsed region, incombination with the upper lateral wall of the nasal valve NV having acurved shape, makes the insertion of a rigid structure into the lumen ofthe nasal valve NV particularly difficult and uncomfortable.

The posterior region of the nasal airway is that region which is linedwith respiratory epithelium, which is ciliated, and olfactoryepithelium, which comprises nerves which extend downwards through thecribiform plate CP from the olfactory bulb, whereas the anterior regionof the nasal airway is that region which is lined with squamousepithelium, which is not ciliated, and transitional epithelium. Theolfactory epithelium extends on both the lateral and medial sides of thenasal airway, and typically extends downwards about 1.5 to 2.5 cm.

The upper posterior region is the region above the inferior meatus IM,as illustrated in FIG. 1( b), and encompasses the middle turbinate, thesinus ostia in infundibulum (ostia to maxillary, frontal and ethmoidalsinuses), the olfactory region, and the upper branches of the trigeminalnerve, and is that region which includes veins which drain to the venoussinuses that surround the brain.

As illustrated in FIG. 1( b), the posterior region of the nasal airwayis the nasal region posterior of an imaginary vertical plane VERT whichis located at a position corresponding to the lower angle of theanterior nasal aperture (aperture piriformis), which correspondssubstantially to one-quarter of the distance between the anterior nasalspine AnS, which is a pointed projection at the anterior extremity ofthe intermaxillary suture, and the posterior nasal spine PnS, which isthe sharp posterior extremity of the nasal crest of the hard palate andrepresents the transition between the nose and the nasopharynx, whichcorresponds to a distance posterior of the anterior nasal spine AnS ofbetween about 13 mm and about 14 mm (Rosenberger defines the distancebetween the anterior nasal spine AnS and the posterior nasal spine PnSas being 56 mm in eighteen year old boys and 53.3 mm in eighteen yearold girls).

As further illustrated in FIG. 1( b), the upper region of the nasalairway is an upper segment of the nasal airway which is bounded by thecribiform plate CP and a horizontal plane HORIZ which is located at aposition corresponding to one-third of the distance between the nasalfloor NF of the nasal airway and the cribiform plate CP, whichcorresponds to a height of typically between about 13 and about 19 mmabove the nasal floor NF (Zacharek et al define the distance from thenasal floor NF to the cribiform plate CP as 46+/−4 mm).

The upper posterior region is thus that upper posterior region which isbounded by the above-defined vertical and horizontal planes VERT, HORIZ.

The present inventors have postulated that this increased concentrationwithin the CNS arises as a result of the veins in the upper posteriorregion of the nasal airway draining backwards to the venous sinuses thatsurround the brain, which leads to a higher local concentration in thecerebrovasculature. Although the sinus cavernous is outside theblood-to-brain barrier, animal models have shown that substances can betransported by a counter-current mechanism from the veins therein to thecarotid artery which passes through the sinus cavernous. Othermechanisms have been proposed which include extra axonal transport alongthe surface of the olfactory and trigeminal nerves. This mode oftransport is apparently quite rapid as compared to intra axonaltransport.

The improved efficacy as achieved by the present invention as comparedto existing nasal spray administration systems can apparently beexplained in that such nasal spray administration systems have beendetermined initially to deliver largely to the anterior one-third of thenasal airway, that is, the nasal region anterior of the nasal valve,from which region drainage is mainly along the floor of the nose and inwhich region the veins drain to the external facial vein, which in turndrains to the external carotid and in turn to the peripheralcirculation.

In one aspect the present invention provides a nosepiece which providesfor expansion in the sagittal plane, opening the connection of themucosal surfaces of the nasal valve and isthmus, in particular byexpansion of the collapsed region at the upper lateral wall of the nasalvalve.

In another aspect the present invention provides a nosepiece whichincludes a flexible tip to fit the cross-sectional shape of a nasalcavity. In a preferred embodiment the nosepiece has an internalconfiguration, at least at the tip, which acts to prevent collapse andmaintain a stable cross-sectional area and a relatively-stableresistance.

In a further aspect the present invention provides a spray nozzle whichprovides an asymmetrical spray plume, where either a powder or a liquid.

The present invention is particularly advantageous when used incombination with bi-directional nasal delivery, but is not restricted tosuch delivery.

The present invention can be combined with delivery concepts whichgenerate a mist, an aerosol, an aerosol spray of particles, eitherliquid or powder, drops, droplets, or a liquid jet or jets of liquid.

An entraining flow can be provided by the exhalation breath of thesubject or from an external flow source, such as from an air chamber ora compressed air supply.

The delivery device can be triggered, such that one or both of the doseand gas flow are triggered by an intraoral pressure which is such as toclose the oropharyngeal velum or by another event, which may or may notsecure velum closure.

The present invention also finds application in delivery systems whichdo not utilize an auxiliary gas flow and even with inhalationenvironments which provide for nasal inhalation or a sniffing manoeuvrethrough one or both of the nostrils.

The devices can be a multi-dose or single-dose.

Preliminary results in models and gamma-scintigraphic pilot studies showthat it is possible to improve the access to and deposition in thenarrow passages of the upper region of the nasal airway including theolfactory region, the regions with veins draining to the sinus cavernousand innervated by the trigeminal nerve.

Furthermore, experiments in models and humans show that modification ofthe plume geometry and positioning of the nozzle provides for optimaldelivery.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,647,980 discloses a device which utilizes a modifiedplume in order to attempt to decrease lateral deposition, and therebyincrease the amount of the dose which reaches the upper region of thenasal airway. Although this device may provide for reduced deposition inthe anterior part of the nasal cavity which is lined by squamousepithelium, owing to the narrower cone angle, only a moderate increasein deposition in the upper region of the nose is expected to beachieved, owing to the difficult and protected access to this region.Furthermore, narrowing of the nose during inhalation, as caused by theBernoulli effect, will further narrow the nasal cavity to increase thefraction deposited in valve region.

In its preferred embodiment the present invention provides for abi-directional air flow in the nasal passages in which optimally-sizedparticles are entrained and subsequently delivered to appropriate targetsites in the nasal airway.

The present invention aims further to improve upon the devices asdisclosed in the applicant's earlier WO-A-03/000310, the content ofwhich is herein incorporated by reference.

In one embodiment the present invention provides for optimisation of thedelivery to upper parts of the nasal airway, including the olfactoryregion, by configuring the nosepiece, in particular the shape andposition thereof, and the emitted plume of particles or liquid jet orjets in conjunction.

In one embodiment the present invention provides for significantlyenhanced access and deposition in the upper region of the nasal airway,and thereby improved dose-to-dose consistency and repeatability of drugdelivery to this region of the nasal airway.

In one embodiment the present invention provides for expansion of thenasal airway in the vertical or sagittal plane and the delivery of anasymmetric plume which has the greater spray angle in the verticalplane, and this particular mode of expansion of the nasal airway incombination with the particular geometrical arrangement of the sprayplume has been found to be particularly advantageous in achievingtargeted delivery to posterior regions, in particular the olfactoryregion, of the nasal airway.

The delivery device of the present invention provides both forpositioning of the outlet nozzle and the expansion of the upper lateraland medial surfaces of the valve region of a nasal cavity.

By configuring the external and internal shape of the nosepiece, thenosepiece both ensures the correct positioning of the outlet nozzle andoptimizes the vertical expansion of the nasal cavity.

The operative function of the nosepiece of the present invention, invertically expanding the nasal cavity, can be contrasted to that of aconventional, frusto-conical nosepiece, which, during insertion into anasal cavity, has been found by the present inventor to push the soft,nasal tissue rearwardly, which is particularly disadvantageous whereattempting delivery to posterior regions of the nasal airway. One suchnosepiece is disclosed in WO-A-1999/049984.

Various other nosepiece geometries are known for nasal delivery devices,such as disclosed in US-A-2003/0101992, U.S. Pat. No. 6,561,193 andWO-A-2004/108197, but none of these nosepieces are configured to providefor vertical or sagittal expansion of the nasal cavity, in particular atthe nasal valve.

In its preferred embodiment the present invention provides a narrownosepiece which can be easily slid into a nasal cavity beyond the nasalvalve to the required depth, before expansion in the vertical orsagittal plane.

This expanding movement of the nosepiece can either be to the upperpart, the lower part or both the upper and lower parts.

In one embodiment the nosepiece comprises two members, that is, an upperand a lower member, where one or both of the members are movablerelative to the supporting body. Such members are exemplified by a pairof scissors, a pair of pliers and expansion screws.

In another embodiment the nosepiece could comprise an expandingcuff-like member, which comprises one or both of upper and lower cuffmembers which expand in the vertical plane.

In one embodiment the nosepiece can comprise a moderately-flexibleanterior part such as to allow the nosepiece to adapt to the curvedshape of a nasal passage, and thereby facilitate deeper insertion intothe nasal slit, and even into the bony part thereof.

In a preferred embodiment the nosepiece includes internal features, suchas ribs, which prevent collapse of the flow path and preventssubstantial reduction in the internal cross-sectional area, which wouldotherwise lead to an increase in flow resistance.

This flexibility enables the nosepiece to conform, at least in part, tothe different shapes and directions of the nasal passage in this region,but at the same time assists in expanding the isthmus. Though the shapeof the anterior part of the nasal passage normally varies within apre-defined range, pathological deviations may cause more pronouncedchanges which otherwise may create problems for insertion andpositioning of the nosepiece, and hence efficient delivery.

Furthermore, this adaptation of the anterior shape of the nosepiece toconform to the nasal passage provides for reduced turbulence, whichwould otherwise lead to unwanted deposition in the zone of turbulence.

The present invention also provides for a nozzle, such as the swirlchamber of a spray pump or a pMDI or a nebulizer, which delivers amodified, asymmetric plume of particles.

In its preferred embodiment the plume is an asymmetric plume which isrelatively flat, with a small dimension in one axis and much greater inthe other axis.

Such a shaped plume reduces deposition in the anterior part of the valveregion and increases the fraction of the dose entering into the upper,more posterior region of the nasal passage including the olfactoryregion and the sinus ostia, which is located below the middle meatus.

The present invention also extends to means for securing a correct andreproducible positioning of nosepiece.

Positioning of the delivery device can be achieved by the function ofthe mouthpiece or an exit resistor in the exit nostril of abi-directional device, or as a separate feature with the main functionof assisting positioning of the nosepiece. Triangular-shaped nose piecesassist in achieving the correct positioning. The mouthpiece of a deviceintended for bi-directional delivery also assists in achieving areproducible positioning of the nosepiece. The provision of a nosepiecein the contralateral nostril also assists in achieving a reproduciblepositioning of the nosepiece. The provision of a special cap or the likeas applied to the exterior of the exterior nose also assists inachieving a reproducible positioning of the nosepiece. Also, tape orvacuum can be used to assist in positioning of the nosepiece andpotentially in addition helps expanding the valve region by externalaction, such as an external dilator used to open the nose(“Breath-Right” nasal strip).

The present invention extends to devices which are adapted tobi-directional delivery where driven by the exhalation breath of thesubject or an auxiliary gas source, and conventional nasal deliverydevices which do not utilize an auxiliary gas flow.

Furthermore, the present invention can be adapted to any traditionaldelivery modality, including but not restricted to a spray pump, a pMDI,a nebulizer or any other means of delivering liquid jets, particles ordrops, either in powder or liquid form.

In its preferred embodiment the present invention provides for expansionin the vertical or sagittal plane, but the expansion is not restrictedto this plane. The expansion can be a combination of movement indifferent planes.

The expansion can be only or predominantly to the upper part or thelower part of a nasal cavity, or the upper and lower parts incombination.

The expansion can be achieved by any possible movement, such as pushing,pulling, lifting, pressing, rotating, expanding, flexing, suction(vacuum) and even by secondary chemical reactions initiated by, forexample, pressure, moisture and temperature which create the desiredmovement of retraction of a mass or volume.

In one embodiment, where the nosepiece comprises two movable members inthe form of a speculum, one of the members can provide a deliverychannel through which substance is delivered into the nasal airway, andthe other member can include a pressure-sensitive release valve or anopen channel which allows for the venting of particles from the nasalairway. Such a configuration has particular application in relation to acompletely obstructed nose, where the delivered flow would otherwisehave no means of escape.

Where the substance includes relatively-large particles, those particleswill due to their momentum travel forward and deposit on an opposingsurface, whereas the air flow will deviate and flow towards the exitvalve.

In having an on/off valve which opens at a predetermined pressure whichis just above the pressure where bi-directional flow is expected tooccur in a moderately-blocked nose, an air flow will occur suddenly andcarry the particles forward, and this will entrain the particles or atleast a large fraction of the particles into the blocked nose and ontoan opposing surface before the airflow turns around and exits in theopposite direction through the valve.

The valve can have a filter to prevent the particles from escaping tothe atmosphere. Using large particles, such as from about 100 μm toabout 200 μm, will also avoid or at least reduce this problem.

By providing a relatively-large distance between the point of emission,which is preferably in the upper member, and the point of exit, which ispreferably in the lower arm, increased deposition can be achieved.

In a preferred embodiment the positioning of the nosepiece shouldpreferably occur prior to release of substance, but could also occur insequence immediately prior to or simultaneously with the releasingaction.

The preferred action is as follows. The positioning and expansion of thespecialized nozzle can be achieved by a finger action. When complete,this action will also open the flow path permitting delivery ofsubstance into the nasal airway, preferably by bi-directional delivery,but alternatively also even in the absence of bi-directional delivery.Alternatively, a pre-charged spring or similar can be released when thenosepiece is inserted into a nostril to the correct position. When thispositioning action is complete, a valve is opened, making it possible toblow through the device or alternatively release the force from a gaschamber or another stored force, or alternatively allowing a mechanicalaction by hand compression, similar to actuation of a spray pump. In analternative configuration, which can be utilized with or withoutbi-directional flow, for example, when used in infants and unconscioussubjects, the two actions of expansion and release of substance from,for example, a spray pump can be integrated. The first part of themechanical action/compression of a lever by the finger will secure theexpansion of the lever and positioning of the nosepiece. Then, when acertain trigger point or resistance is reached the finger force willresult in the generation of a spray or release of a compressed gas byexhalation against a resistor or from a pressurized compartment or thecombination thereof.

The following represent potential areas of application. Delivery to theolfactory epithelium for transport into or along nerve paths or bydiffusion across the cribiform plate. Delivery to the upper part of thenasal passage including the olfactory region which drains via veins tothe sinus cavernous to achieve higher concentrations of drugs, with thepotential of diffusing into the carotid artery passing through the sinuscavernous, where diffusing through the rete mirabile. Delivery to thebranches of the trigeminal nerve for potential peripheral action on thenerves (anagetic), uptake and transport along the nerves to the centralganglion and potentially into the CNS or with reflectory actions inother parts of the face or CNS. Deposition of drugs in the middle meatusand infundibulum which includes the sinus ostia. This region plays a keyrole in ventilation of the sinuses and in the development of sinuspathology and consequently for the treatment of pathology in thisregion. Delivery of topically-acting substances, such as decongestants,steroids and antihistamines, which can reduce the mucosal swelling inthe entrances to and in the narrow slit like passages of the upper partof the nose in order to improve olfaction or reverse anosmia.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be describedhereinbelow by way of example only with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1( a) schematically illustrates the anatomy of the upperrespiratory tract of a human subject;

FIG. 1( b) illustrates the segmentation of a nasal cavity in accordancewith a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a nasal delivery device in accordance with a firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 2 prior to insertion intoa nasal cavity of a subject;

FIG. 4 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 2 inserted into a nasalcavity of the subject prior to operation;

FIG. 5 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 2 following operation ofthe actuating members of the nosepiece assembly to expand the upper andlower walls of the nasal cavity of the subject;

FIG. 6 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 2 following actuation ofthe substance supply unit;

FIGS. 7( a) and (b) illustrate the tip of a delivery element as onemodified embodiment of the delivery device of FIG. 2, where illustratedin respective ones of the rest or uncompressed state and the operativeor compressed state;

FIG. 8 illustrates a nasal delivery device in accordance with a secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross sectional view (along section I-I in FIG. 8)of the nosepiece assembly of the delivery device of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 8 prior to insertioninto a nasal cavity of a subject;

FIG. 11 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 8 inserted into a nasalcavity of a subject prior to operation;

FIG. 12 illustrates a cross sectional view (along section II-II in FIG.11) of the nosepiece assembly of the delivery device of FIG. 8 insertedinto the nasal cavity of the subject for operation;

FIG. 13 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 8 following actuation ofthe substance supply unit;

FIG. 14 illustrates a nasal delivery device in accordance with a thirdembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of the nosepiece ofthe delivery device of FIG. 14 (other side symmetrical);

FIG. 16 illustrates a fragmentary, sectional perspective view of thenosepiece of the delivery device of FIG. 14 (other side symmetrical);

FIG. 17 illustrates a fragmentary plan view of the nosepiece of thedelivery device of FIG. 14 (other side symmetrical);

FIG. 18 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 14 prior to insertioninto a nasal cavity of a subject;

FIG. 19 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 14 inserted into a nasalcavity of the subject prior to operation;

FIG. 20 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 14 following actuationof the substance supply unit;

FIG. 21 illustrates a nasal delivery device in accordance with a fourthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of the nosepiece ofthe delivery device of FIG. 21 (other side symmetrical);

FIG. 23 illustrates a fragmentary, sectional perspective view of thenosepiece of the delivery device of FIG. 21 (other side symmetrical);

FIG. 24 illustrates a fragmentary plan view of the nosepiece of thedelivery device of FIG. 21 (other side symmetrical);

FIG. 25 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 21 prior to insertioninto a nasal cavity of a subject;

FIG. 26 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 21 inserted into a nasalcavity of the subject prior to operation;

FIG. 27 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 21 following actuationof the substance supply unit;

FIG. 28 illustrates a nasal delivery device in accordance with a fifthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 29 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of the nosepiece ofthe delivery device of FIG. 28 (other side symmetrical);

FIG. 30 illustrates a fragmentary, sectional perspective view of thenosepiece of the delivery device of FIG. 28 (other side symmetrical);

FIG. 31 illustrates a fragmentary plan view of the nosepiece of thedelivery device of FIG. 28 (other side symmetrical);

FIG. 32 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 28 prior to insertioninto a nasal cavity of a subject;

FIG. 33 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 28 inserted into a nasalcavity of the subject prior to operation;

FIG. 34 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 28 following actuationof the substance supply unit;

FIG. 35 illustrates a nasal delivery device in accordance with a sixthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 36 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of the nosepiece ofthe delivery device of FIG. 35 (other side symmetrical);

FIG. 37 illustrates a fragmentary, sectional perspective view of thenosepiece of the delivery device of FIG. 35 (other side symmetrical);

FIG. 38 illustrates a fragmentary plan view of the nosepiece of thedelivery device of FIG. 35 (other side symmetrical);

FIG. 39 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 35 prior to insertioninto a nasal cavity of a subject;

FIG. 40 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 35 inserted into a nasalcavity of the subject prior to operation;

FIG. 41 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 35 following actuationof the substance supply unit;

FIG. 42 illustrates a nasal delivery device in accordance with a seventhembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 43 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of the nosepiece ofthe delivery device of FIG. 42 (other side symmetrical);

FIG. 44 illustrates a fragmentary, sectional perspective view of thenosepiece of the delivery device of FIG. 42 (other side symmetrical);

FIG. 45 illustrates a fragmentary plan view of the nosepiece of thedelivery device of FIG. 42 (other side symmetrical);

FIG. 46 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 42 prior to insertioninto a nasal cavity of a subject;

FIG. 47 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 42 inserted into a nasalcavity of the subject prior to operation;

FIG. 48 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 42 following actuationof the substance supply unit;

FIG. 49 illustrates a nasal delivery device in accordance with an eighthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 50 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of the nosepiece ofthe delivery device of FIG. 49 (other side symmetrical);

FIG. 51 illustrates a fragmentary, sectional perspective view of thenosepiece of the delivery device of FIG. 49 (other side symmetrical);

FIG. 52 illustrates a fragmentary plan view of the nosepiece of thedelivery device of FIG. 49 (other side symmetrical);

FIG. 53 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of the nozzle of theoutlet unit of the delivery device of FIG. 49;

FIG. 54 illustrates a vertical sectional view (along section III-III inFIG. 53) of the nozzle of FIG. 53;

FIG. 55 illustrates an enlarged view of detail A in FIG. 54;

FIG. 56 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 49 prior to insertioninto a nasal cavity of a subject;

FIG. 57 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 49 inserted into a nasalcavity of the subject prior to operation;

FIG. 58 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 49 following actuationof the substance supply unit;

FIG. 59 illustrates a nasal delivery device in accordance with a ninthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 60 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of the nosepiece ofthe delivery device of FIG. 59 (other side symmetrical);

FIG. 61 illustrates a fragmentary, sectional perspective view of thenosepiece of the delivery device of FIG. 59 (other side symmetrical);

FIG. 62 illustrates a fragmentary plan view of the nosepiece of thedelivery device of FIG. 59 (other side symmetrical);

FIG. 63 illustrates a fragmentary, sectional perspective view of thenosepiece of the delivery device of FIG. 59 where twisted about thelongitudinal axis of the nosepiece;

FIG. 64 illustrates a fragmentary, sectional perspective view of thenosepiece of the delivery device of FIG. 59 where bent about an axisorthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the nosepiece and extending inthe plane of the support member of the nosepiece;

FIG. 65 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 59 prior to insertioninto a nasal cavity of a subject;

FIG. 66 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 59 inserted into a nasalcavity of the subject prior to operation;

FIG. 67 illustrates the delivery device of FIG. 59 following actuationof the substance supply unit;

FIG. 68 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of a nosepiece as onemodification of the nosepiece of the delivery device of FIG. 42 (otherside symmetrical);

FIG. 69 illustrates a fragmentary, sectional perspective view of thenosepiece of FIG. 68 (other side symmetrical); and

FIG. 70 illustrates a fragmentary plan view of the nosepiece of FIG. 68(other side symmetrical).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 2 to 6 illustrate a nasal delivery device in accordance with afirst embodiment of the present invention.

The delivery device comprises a housing 15, a nosepiece assembly 17 forfitting in a nasal cavity of a subject, and a mouthpiece unit 19 throughwhich the subject exhales to actuate the delivery device.

The nosepiece assembly 17 comprises first and second nosepiece units 20,24 which are movably coupled, in this embodiment pivotally coupled, tothe housing 15 and are operable by the subject, in this embodiment bygripping the same between one of the fingers and the thumb, to expandthe nasal cavity of the subject in the vertical or sagittal plane.

In this embodiment the first nosepiece unit 20 comprises a lower, guideelement 26 which acts to guide the nosepiece assembly 17 when fitted inthe nasal cavity of the subject, and an actuating arm 28 which extendsrearwardly of the guide element 26 and is operated by the subject, inthis embodiment by gripping the same, to position the guide element 26.

In this embodiment the second nosepiece unit 24 comprises an upper,delivery element 32 which acts to guide the nosepiece assembly 17 whenfitted in the nasal cavity of the subject, an outlet unit 34 which isdisposed within the delivery element 32 for delivering substance intothe nasal airway of the subject, and an actuating arm 36 which extendsrearwardly of the delivery element and is operated by the subject, inthis embodiment by gripping the same, to position the delivery element32.

In this embodiment the delivery element 32 has a relatively-narrowsection in the horizontal plane so as to facilitate insertion beyond thenarrow nasal valve of the nasal cavity of the subject and a taperingsection in the vertical plane which narrows to the distal end thereof.

In this embodiment the outlet unit 34 comprises a delivery channel 43which is in fluid communication with the mouthpiece unit 19 such that anair flow is delivered into and through the nasal airway of the subjecton exhalation by the subject through the mouthpiece unit 19, and anozzle 45 for delivering substance to the nasal airway of the subject.

In this embodiment the nozzle 45 is disposed in the delivery channel 43co-axially with the same.

In this embodiment the nozzle 45 is configured to provide an aerosolspray.

In an alternative embodiment, for the delivery of a liquid, the nozzle45 could be configured to deliver a liquid jet as a column of liquid.

In this embodiment the outlet unit 34 is coupled to the housing 15 by aflexible coupling, such as to allow for the positioning of the deliveryelement 32 in the nasal cavity of the subject, as will be described inmore detail hereinbelow.

In an alternative embodiment the delivery element 32 could be fixed tothe housing 15, and the mouthpiece unit 19 instead movably coupled tothe housing 15, typically by a flexible coupling, such as to allow forthe positioning of the delivery element 32 in the nasal cavity of thesubject.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 7( a) and (b), at least thetip of the delivery element 32 can comprise a tubular section of aflexible, preferably resilient, material, which is such as to expand inthe vertical axis when compressed in the horizontal axis. In a preferredembodiment the material is a semi-soft plastics material, such assilicone rubber.

In this embodiment the tip of the delivery element 32 is configured suchthat the lateral sections thereof preferentially flex when compressed inthe horizontal axis, but yet exhibit sufficient rigidity as to drive theupper and lower sections thereof to expand in the vertical axis.

In this embodiment the tip of the delivery element 32 includessupporting elements 46, 47 which are disposed to the inner surface atthe lateral sections of the tip of the delivery element 32, and act toprevent compression of the lateral sections of the tip of the deliveryelement 32 beyond a predetermined separation, which is that required toachieve an optimal flow profile through the nosepiece 120.

With this configuration, as will be described in more detailhereinbelow, operation of the actuating arms 28, 36 of the first andsecond nosepiece units 20, 24, in this embodiment by gripping the samebetween ones of the fingers and the thumb, causes the expansion of theguide element 26 of the first nosepiece unit 20 relative to the deliveryelement 32 of the second nosepiece unit 24 to an expanded state.

This expansion acts to engage the lower and upper walls of the nasalcavity of the subject and cause the expansion of the nasal cavity in thevertical plane, in particular the upper wall of the nasal cavity of thesubject, which is a fleshy structure as compared to the lower wall ofthe nasal cavity of the subject, which is a relatively-firm structure,and also position the delivery element 32 of the second nosepiece unit24 in the nasal cavity of the subject, with the lower wall of the nasalcavity of the subject, in being a relatively-hard structure, acting as areference for the expansion.

This expansion further acts to tension the lateral walls of the nasalcavity of the subject which defines the nasal valve, which causes thelateral walls of the nasal cavity to be urged into sealing contact withthe delivery element 32 of the second nosepiece unit 24.

In this embodiment the nozzle 45 of the outlet unit 34 is configured todeliver an asymmetric aerosol spray, with the aerosol spray having asignificantly greater spray angle in the vertical plane α than in thehorizontal plane β. Such an aerosol spray has been found to beparticularly advantageous in the delivery of substance to posteriorregions of the nasal cavities, in particular the olfactory region. In apreferred embodiment the spray angle in the vertical plane α is greaterthan 35°, and more preferably greater than 40°.

In this embodiment the aerosol spray presents an elliptical spray zone.

In another embodiment the aerosol spray could present a substantiallyrectangular spray zone.

The nosepiece assembly 17 further comprises a sealing member 48, in thisembodiment a tapered, annular ring of a resilient material, which actsboth to provide a seal with the nares of the nostril of the nasal cavityof the subject and determine the extent of the insertion of the outletunit 34 of the second nosepiece unit 24 of the nosepiece assembly 17into the nasal cavity of the subject. In a preferred embodiment thedistal end of the outlet unit 34 is configured to extend at least about2 cm, preferably at least about 3 cm, more preferably at least about 4cm, and preferably from about 2 cm to about 4 cm, into the nasal cavityof the subject.

The delivery device further comprises a substance supply unit 49 fordelivering metered doses of a substance, in this embodiment an aerosolcanister for delivering metered volumes of a propellant, preferably ahydrofluoroalkane (HFA) propellant or the like, containing medicament,either as a suspension or solution, which is fluidly connected to thenozzle 45 of the outlet unit 34 to deliver substance from the nosepieceassembly 17, in this embodiment as an aerosol spray.

In this embodiment the substance supply unit 49 is a multi-dose unit fordelivering a plurality of metered doses of substance. In anotherembodiment the substance supply unit 49 could be a single-dose unit fordelivering a single metered dose of substance.

The substance supply unit 49 is pre-primeable, in this embodiment byloading a resilient element, and includes a breath-actuated releasemechanism 51 which, when triggered, releases the resilient element andactuates the substance supply unit 49 to deliver a metered dose ofsubstance through the nozzle 45 of the outlet unit 34.

In this embodiment the release mechanism 51 is configured to causeactuation of the substance supply unit 49 on generation of apredetermined flow rate through the delivery channel 43 of the deliveryelement 32.

In another embodiment the release mechanism 51 could be configured tocause actuation of the substance supply unit 49 on generation of apredetermined pressure within the delivery channel 43 of the deliveryelement 32.

In a further embodiment the release mechanism 51 could be configured tocause actuation of the substance supply unit 49 on generation of eitherone of a predetermined flow rate through the delivery channel 43 of thedelivery element 32 or a predetermined pressure within the deliverychannel 43 of the delivery element 32.

In an alternative embodiment the substance supply unit 49 could comprisea mechanical delivery pump, in particular a liquid delivery pump or apowder delivery pump, which delivers metered doses of a substance onactuation thereof.

In another alternative embodiment the substance supply unit 49 couldcomprise a dry powder delivery unit which delivers metered doses of asubstance, as a dry powder, on actuation thereof.

In yet another alternative embodiment the substance supply unit 49 couldcomprise a nebulizer which delivers metered doses of a substance, as anaerosol spray, on actuation thereof.

Operation of the delivery device will now be described hereinbelow withreference to FIGS. 3 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the nosepiece assembly 17 is first insertedinto one of the nasal cavities of a subject until the sealing member 48abuts the nares of the nostril of the subject, at which point the distalend of the outlet unit 34 typically extends from about 2 cm to about 4cm into the nasal cavity of the subject, and the mouthpiece unit 19 isthen gripped in the lips of the subject.

Referring to FIG. 5, the subject then operates the actuating arms 28, 36of the first and second nosepiece units 20, 24, in this embodiment bygripping the same between ones of the fingers and the thumb, to causethe expansion of the guide element 26 of the first nosepiece unit 20relative to the delivery element 32 of the second nosepiece unit 24 toan expanded state. This expansion acts to engage the lower and upperwalls of the nasal cavity of the subject and cause the expansion of thenasal cavity in the vertical plane, in particular the upper wall of thenasal cavity of the subject, which is a fleshy structure, as compared tothe lower wall of the nasal cavity of the subject, which is arelatively-hard structure, and position the delivery element 32 of thesecond nosepiece unit 24 in the nasal cavity of the subject, with thelower wall of the nasal cavity of the subject being a relatively-hardstructure, which acts as a reference for the expansion. This expansionalso acts to tension the lateral walls of the nasal cavity of thesubject which defines the nasal valve, which causes the lateral walls tobe urged into sealing contact with the delivery element 32 of the secondnosepiece unit 24.

Referring to FIG. 6, the subject then begins to exhale through themouthpiece unit 19, which exhalation acts to close the oropharyngealvelum of the subject and drive an air flow through the delivery channel43 of the outlet unit 34, with the air flow passing into the one nasalcavity, around the posterior margin of the nasal septum and out of theother nasal cavity, thereby achieving a bi-directional air flow throughthe nasal airway of the subject.

In this embodiment, when the flow rate developed through the deliverychannel 43 of the delivery element 32 reaches a predetermined value, therelease mechanism 51 is triggered to actuate the substance supply unit49 to deliver a metered dose of a substance to the nozzle 45 of theoutlet unit 34 and into the nasal cavity of the subject, in thisembodiment as an asymmetric aerosol spray. In the alternative embodimentthe release mechanism 51 could be triggered on the generation of apredetermined pressure in the delivery channel 43 of the deliveryelement 32.

Following exhalation, the subject then releases the actuating arms 28,36 of the first and second nosepiece units 20, 24, which causes theguide element 26 of the first nosepiece unit 20 and the delivery element32 of the second nosepiece unit 24 to return to the contracted state, atwhich point the mouthpiece unit 19 is released and the nosepieceassembly 17 is withdrawn from the nasal cavity of the subject.

In one embodiment, where the delivery device is a single-dose device,the device can be discarded.

In another embodiment, where the delivery device is a multi-dose device,the device is ready for further use following priming of the substancesupply unit 49.

FIGS. 8 to 13 illustrate a nasal delivery device in accordance with asecond embodiment of the present invention.

The delivery device comprises a housing 115, a nosepiece assembly 117for fitting in a nasal cavity of a subject, and a mouthpiece unit 119through which the subject exhales to actuate the delivery device.

The nosepiece assembly 117 comprises a nosepiece 120 which is attachedto the housing 115 and defines a delivery channel 123 which is in fluidcommunication with the mouthpiece unit 119 such that an air flow isdelivered into and through the nasal airway of the subject on exhalationby the subject through the mouthpiece unit 119, and an outlet unit 124which is disposed within the nosepiece 120 for delivering substance intothe nasal airway of the subject.

In this embodiment the nosepiece 120 is frusto-conical in shape andsemi-flexible, here formed of a semi-soft plastics material, such as toexpand in the vertical axis when compressed in the horizontal axis.

In this embodiment the nosepiece 120 is configured such that the lateralsections thereof preferentially flex when compressed in the horizontalaxis, but yet exhibit sufficient rigidity as to drive the upper andlower sections thereof to expand in the vertical axis.

In this embodiment the nosepiece 120 includes upper and lowerre-inforcing elements 127, 129 which are disposed to the inner surfaceat the upper and lower sections of the nosepiece 120, and provide forthe application of the expansion force to upper and lower regions of thenasal cavity of the subject.

In this embodiment the nosepiece 120 includes supporting elements 131,133 which are disposed to the inner surface at the lateral sections ofthe nosepiece 120, and act to prevent compression of the lateralsections of the nosepiece 120 beyond a predetermined separation, whichis that required to achieve an optimal flow profile through thenosepiece 120.

In this embodiment the outlet unit 124 comprises a nozzle 145 fordelivering substance to the nasal airway of the subject. In thisembodiment the nozzle 145 is disposed to the upper re-inforcing element127. In this embodiment the nozzle 145 is configured to provide anaerosol spray. In an alternative embodiment, for the delivery of aliquid, the nozzle 145 could be configured to deliver a liquid jet as acolumn of liquid.

In this embodiment the outlet unit 124 is coupled to the housing 115 bya flexible coupling, such as to allow for the positioning of thenosepiece 120 in the nasal cavity of the subject, as will be describedin more detail hereinbelow.

With this configuration, as will be described in more detailhereinbelow, insertion of the nosepiece 120 into the nasal cavity of thesubject acts to compress the lateral sections of the nosepiece 120 byengagement with the relatively-narrow passage as presented at the nasalvalve, which in turn acts to cause the expansion of the upper and lowersections of the nosepiece 120 in the vertical axis.

This expansion acts to engage upper and lower walls of the nasal cavityof the subject and cause the expansion of the nasal cavity in thevertical plane, in particular the upper wall of the nasal cavity of thesubject, which is a fleshy structure, as compared to the lower wall ofthe nasal cavity of the subject, which is a relatively-hard structure,and also position the nosepiece 120 in the nasal cavity of the subject,with the lower wall of the nasal cavity of the subject, in being arelatively-hard structure, acting as a reference for the expansion.

This expansion further acts to tension the lateral walls of the nasalcavity of the subject which defines the nasal valve, which causes thelateral walls of the nasal cavity to be urged into sealing contact withthe nosepiece 120.

In this embodiment the nozzle 145 of the outlet unit 124 is configuredto deliver an asymmetric aerosol spray, with the aerosol spray having asignificantly greater spray angle in the vertical plane α than in thehorizontal plane β. Such an aerosol spray has been found to beparticularly advantageous in the delivery of substance to posteriorregions of the nasal cavities, in particular the olfactory region. In apreferred embodiment the spray angle in the vertical plane α is greaterthan 35°, and more preferably greater than 40°.

In this embodiment the aerosol spray presents an elliptical spray zone.

In another embodiment the aerosol spray could present a substantiallyrectangular spray zone.

The nosepiece assembly 117 further comprises a sealing member 148, inthis embodiment a tapered, annular ring of a resilient material, whichacts both to provide a seal with the nares of the nostril of the nasalcavity of the subject and determine the extent of the insertion of theoutlet unit 124 of the nosepiece assembly 117 into the nasal cavity ofthe subject. In a preferred embodiment the distal end of the outlet unit124 is configured to extend at least about 2 cm, preferably at leastabout 3 cm, more preferably at least about 4 cm, and preferably fromabout 2 cm to about 4 cm, into the nasal cavity of the subject.

The delivery device further comprises a substance supply unit 149 fordelivering metered doses of a substance, in this embodiment an aerosolcanister for delivering metered volumes of a propellant, preferably ahydrofluoroalkane (HFA) propellant or the like, containing medicament,either as a suspension or solution, which is fluidly connected to thenozzle 145 of the outlet unit 124 to deliver substance from thenosepiece assembly 117, in this embodiment as an aerosol spray.

In this embodiment the substance supply unit 149 is a multi-dose unitfor delivering a plurality of metered doses of substance. In anotherembodiment the substance supply unit 149 could be a single-dose unit fordelivering a single metered dose of substance.

The substance supply unit 149 is pre-primeable, in this embodiment byloading a resilient element, and includes a breath-actuated releasemechanism 151 which, when triggered, releases the resilient element andactuates the substance supply unit 149 to deliver a metered dose ofsubstance through the nozzle 145 of the outlet unit 124.

In this embodiment the release mechanism 151 is configured to causeactuation of the substance supply unit 149 on generation of apredetermined flow rate through the delivery channel 123 of thenosepiece 120.

In another embodiment the release mechanism 151 could be configured tocause actuation of the substance supply unit 149 on generation of apredetermined pressure within the delivery channel 123 of the nosepiece120.

In a further embodiment the release mechanism 151 could be configured tocause actuation of the substance supply unit 149 on generation of eitherone of a predetermined flow rate through the delivery channel 123 of thenosepiece 120 or a predetermined pressure within the delivery channel123 of the nosepiece 120.

In an alternative embodiment the substance supply unit 149 couldcomprise a mechanical delivery pump, in particular a liquid deliverypump or a powder delivery pump, which delivers metered doses of asubstance on actuation thereof.

In another alternative embodiment the substance supply unit 149 couldcomprise a dry powder delivery unit which delivers metered doses of asubstance, as a dry powder, on actuation thereof.

In yet another alternative embodiment the substance supply unit 149could comprise a nebulizer which delivers metered doses of a substance,as an aerosol spray, on actuation thereof.

Operation of the delivery device will now be described hereinbelow withreference to FIGS. 10 to 13 of the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the nosepiece assembly 117 is firstinserted into one of the nasal cavities of a subject until the sealingmember 148 abuts the nares of the nostril of the subject, at which pointthe distal end of the outlet unit 124 typically extends from about 2 cmto about 4 cm into the nasal cavity of the subject, and the mouthpieceunit 119 is then gripped in the lips of the subject.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, insertion of the nosepiece 120 into the nasalcavity of the subject acts to compress the lateral sections of thenosepiece 120 by engagement with the relatively-narrow passage aspresented at the nasal valve, which in turn acts to cause the expansionof the upper and lower sections of the nosepiece 120 in the verticalaxis, with the extent of the compression being determined by thesupporting elements 131, 133. This expansion acts to engage upper andlower walls of the nasal cavity of the subject and cause the expansionof the nasal cavity in the vertical plane, in particular the upper wallof the nasal cavity of the subject, which is a fleshy structure, ascompared to the lower wall of the nasal cavity of the subject, which isa relatively-hard structure, and also position the nosepiece 120 in thenasal cavity of the subject, with the lower wall of the nasal cavity ofthe subject, in being a relatively-hard structure, acting as a referencefor the expansion. This expansion further acts to tension the lateralwalls of the nasal cavity of the subject which defines the nasal valve,which causes the lateral walls of the nasal cavity to be urged intosealing contact with the nosepiece 120.

Referring to FIG. 13, the subject then begins to exhale through themouthpiece unit 119, which exhalation acts to close the oropharyngealvelum of the subject and drive an air flow through the delivery channel123 of the nosepiece 120, with the air flow passing into the one nasalcavity, around the posterior margin of the nasal septum and out of theother nasal cavity, thereby achieving a bi-directional air flow throughthe nasal airway of the subject.

In this embodiment, when the flow rate developed through the deliverychannel 123 of the nosepiece 120 reaches a predetermined value, therelease mechanism 151 is triggered to actuate the substance supply unit149 to deliver a metered dose of a substance to the nozzle 145 of theoutlet unit 124 and into the nasal cavity of the subject, in thisembodiment as an asymmetric aerosol spray. In the alternative embodimentthe release mechanism 151 could be triggered on the generation of apredetermined pressure in the delivery channel 123 of the nosepiece 120.

Following exhalation, the subject then releases the mouthpiece unit 119and the nosepiece assembly 117 is withdrawn from the nasal cavity of thesubject.

In one embodiment, where the delivery device is a single-dose device,the device can be discarded.

In another embodiment, where the delivery device is a multi-dose device,the device is ready for further use following priming of the substancesupply unit 149.

FIGS. 14 to 20 illustrate a nasal delivery device in accordance with athird embodiment of the present invention.

The delivery device comprises a housing 215, a nosepiece assembly 217for fitting in a nasal cavity of a subject, and a mouthpiece unit 219through which the subject exhales to actuate the delivery device.

The nosepiece assembly 217 comprises a nosepiece 220 which is attachedto the housing 115 and defines a delivery channel 223 which is in fluidcommunication with the mouthpiece unit 219 such that an air flow isdelivered into and through the nasal airway of the subject on exhalationby the subject through the mouthpiece unit 219, and an outlet unit 224which is disposed within the nosepiece 220 for delivering substance intothe nasal airway of the subject.

In this embodiment, as particularly illustrated in FIGS. 15 to 17, thenosepiece 220 is generally frusto-conical in shape and includes a tipelement 225 of asymmetric, elongate section, in having a dimension d1 ina first, sagittal direction which is substantially greater than adimension d2 in a second, lateral direction which is orthogonal to thefirst, sagittal direction. In this embodiment the dimension d1 in thesagittal direction is at least twice that of the dimension d2 in thelateral direction. In one embodiment the dimension d2 in the lateraldirection is not more than 6 mm and more preferably not more than 4 mm.

In this embodiment the tip element 225 extends substantially axially tothe longitudinal axis of the nosepiece 220.

In this embodiment the nosepiece 220 further comprises a sealing element248, in this embodiment a tapered, annular section, which acts both toprovide a seal with the nares of the nostril of the nasal cavity of thesubject and determine the extent of the insertion of the outlet unit 224of the nosepiece assembly 217 into the nasal cavity of the subject. In apreferred embodiment the distal end of the outlet unit 224 is configuredto extend at least about 2 cm, preferably at least about 3 cm, morepreferably at least about 4 cm, and preferably from about 2 cm to about4 cm, into the nasal cavity of the subject.

In this embodiment the nosepiece 220 is formed as a substantially rigidstructure, here formed of a plastics material.

In this embodiment the outlet unit 224 comprises a nozzle 245 fordelivering substance to the nasal airway of the subject.

In this embodiment the nozzle 245 is configured to provide an aerosolspray, either as a liquid or powder aerosol.

In an alternative embodiment the nozzle 245 could be configured todeliver a jet as a column of substance, either as a liquid or powderjet.

With this configuration, as will be described in more detailhereinbelow, on insertion of the nosepiece 220 into the nasal cavity ofthe subject, the longer, sagittal section of the tip element 225 of thenosepiece 220 becomes aligned in the sagittal plane and acts to engageupper and lower walls of the nasal cavity of the subject and cause theexpansion of the nasal cavity in the vertical, sagittal plane, inparticular the upper wall of the nasal cavity of the subject, which is afleshy structure, as compared to the lower wall of the nasal cavity ofthe subject, which is a relatively-hard structure, and also position thenosepiece 220 in the nasal cavity of the subject, with the lower wall ofthe nasal cavity of the subject, in being a relatively-hard structure,acting as a reference for the expansion.

This expansion further acts to tension the lateral walls of the nasalcavity of the subject which defines the nasal valve, which causes thelateral walls of the nasal cavity to be urged into sealing contact withthe nosepiece 220.

In this embodiment the nozzle 245 of the outlet unit 224 is configuredto deliver an asymmetric aerosol spray, with the aerosol spray having asignificantly greater spray angle in the vertical, sagittal plane α thanin the horizontal plane β. Such an aerosol spray has been found to beparticularly advantageous in the delivery of substance to posteriorregions of the nasal cavities, in particular the olfactory region.

In a preferred embodiment the spray angle in the vertical, sagittalplane α is greater than about 35°, more preferably greater than about40°, still more preferably greater than about 45° and yet morepreferably greater than about 50°.

In a preferred embodiment the spray angle in the horizontal plane β isnot more than about 35°, more preferably not more than about 30°, stillmore preferably not more than about 25°, yet more preferably not morethan about 20°, and still yet more preferably not more than about 15°.

In this embodiment the aerosol spray presents an elliptical spray zone.

In another embodiment the aerosol spray could present a substantiallyrectangular spray zone.

The delivery device further comprises a substance supply unit 249 fordelivering metered doses of a substance, in this embodiment an aerosolcanister for delivering metered volumes of a propellant, preferably ahydrofluoroalkane (HFA) propellant or the like, containing medicament,either as a suspension or solution, which is fluidly connected to thenozzle 245 of the outlet unit 224 to deliver substance from thenosepiece assembly 217, in this embodiment as an aerosol spray.

In this embodiment the substance supply unit 249 is a multi-dose unitfor delivering a plurality of metered doses of substance. In anotherembodiment the substance supply unit 249 could be a single-dose unit fordelivering a single metered dose of substance.

The substance supply unit 249 is pre-primeable, in this embodiment byloading a resilient element, and includes a breath-actuated releasemechanism 251 which, when triggered, releases the resilient element andactuates the substance supply unit 249 to deliver a metered dose ofsubstance through the nozzle 245 of the outlet unit 224.

In this embodiment the release mechanism 251 is configured to causeactuation of the substance supply unit 249 on generation of apredetermined flow rate through the delivery channel 223 of thenosepiece 220.

In another embodiment the release mechanism 251 could be configured tocause actuation of the substance supply unit 249 on generation of apredetermined pressure within the delivery channel 223 of the nosepiece220.

In a further embodiment the release mechanism 251 could be configured tocause actuation of the substance supply unit 249 on generation of eitherone of a predetermined flow rate through the delivery channel 223 of thenosepiece 220 or a predetermined pressure within the delivery channel223 of the nosepiece 220.

In an alternative embodiment the substance supply unit 249 couldcomprise a mechanical delivery pump, in particular a liquid deliverypump or a powder delivery pump, which delivers metered doses of asubstance on actuation thereof.

In another alternative embodiment the substance supply unit 249 couldcomprise a dry powder delivery unit which delivers metered doses of asubstance, as a dry powder, on actuation thereof.

In yet another alternative embodiment the substance supply unit 249could comprise a nebulizer which delivers metered doses of a substance,as an aerosol spray, on actuation thereof.

Operation of the delivery device will now be described hereinbelow withreference to FIGS. 18 to 20 of the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, the nosepiece assembly 217 is firstinserted into one of the nasal cavities of a subject until the sealingmember 248 abuts the nares of the nostril of the subject, at which pointthe distal end of the outlet unit 224 typically extends from about 2 cmto about 4 cm into the nasal cavity of the subject, and the mouthpieceunit 219 is then gripped in the lips of the subject.

As illustrated, insertion of the nosepiece 220 into the nasal cavity ofthe subject acts to cause the longer, sagittal section of the tipelement 225 of the nosepiece 220 to become aligned in the sagittal planeand engage upper and lower walls of the nasal cavity of the subject,which engagement causes the expansion of the nasal cavity in thevertical, sagittal plane, in particular the upper wall of the nasalcavity of the subject, which is a fleshy structure, as compared to thelower wall of the nasal cavity of the subject, which is arelatively-hard structure, and also position the nosepiece 220 in thenasal cavity of the subject, with the lower wall of the nasal cavity ofthe subject, in being a relatively-hard structure, acting as a referencefor the expansion. This expansion further acts to tension the lateralwalls of the nasal cavity of the subject which defines the nasal valve,which causes the lateral walls of the nasal cavity to be urged intosealing contact with the nosepiece 220.

Referring to FIG. 20, the subject then begins to exhale through themouthpiece unit 219, which exhalation acts to close the oropharyngealvelum of the subject and drive an air flow through the delivery channel223 of the nosepiece 220, with the air flow passing into the one nasalcavity, around the posterior margin of the nasal septum and out of theother nasal cavity, thereby achieving a bi-directional air flow throughthe nasal airway of the subject.

In this embodiment, when the flow rate developed through the deliverychannel 223 of the nosepiece 220 reaches a predetermined value, therelease mechanism 251 is triggered to actuate the substance supply unit249 to deliver a metered dose of a substance to the nozzle 245 of theoutlet unit 224 and into the nasal cavity of the subject, in thisembodiment as an asymmetric aerosol spray. In an alternative embodimentthe release mechanism 251 could be triggered on the generation of apredetermined pressure in the delivery channel 223 of the nosepiece 220.

Following exhalation, the subject then releases the mouthpiece unit 219and the nosepiece assembly 217 is withdrawn from the nasal cavity of thesubject.

In one embodiment, where the delivery device is a single-dose device,the device can be discarded.

In another embodiment, where the delivery device is a multi-dose device,the device is ready for further use following priming of the substancesupply unit 249.

FIGS. 21 to 27 illustrate a nasal delivery device in accordance with afourth embodiment of the present invention.

The delivery device of this embodiment is quite similar to the deliverydevice of the above-described third embodiment, and thus, in order toavoid unnecessary duplication of description, only the differences willbe described in detail, with like reference signs designating likeparts.

The delivery device of this embodiment differs from that of theabove-described third embodiment in the release mechanism 251 being amanually-actuated unit and the mouthpiece unit 219 being omitted. Withthis configuration, a gas flow is not delivered into the nasal cavity ofthe subject, but the device still advantageously provides for deliveryto the olfactory region by virtue of the operation of the nosepiece 220of the nosepiece unit 217.

Operation of the delivery device is the same as for the above-describedthird embodiment, except that a gas flow is not delivered into the nasalcavity.

FIGS. 28 to 34 illustrate a nasal delivery device in accordance with afifth embodiment of the present invention.

The delivery device of this embodiment is very similar to the deliverydevice of the above-described third embodiment, and thus, in order toavoid unnecessary duplication of description, only the differences willbe described in detail, with like reference signs designating likeparts.

The delivery device of this embodiment differs from that of theabove-described third embodiment in further comprising an oralexhalation breath-actuatable gas supply unit 257 for delivering a gasflow through the delivery channel 223 of the outlet unit 221 in responseto exhalation by a subject, and in that the mouthpiece unit 219 is notin fluid communication with the delivery channel 223 of the outlet unit221, whereby a gas flow, separate to the exhalation breath of thesubject, is delivered to the delivery channel 223 of the outlet unit221, and hence the nasal airway of the subject, in response toexhalation through the mouthpiece unit 219.

Operation of the delivery device is the same as for the above-describedthird embodiment, with a gas flow, separate to the exhalation breath ofthe subject, being delivered to the delivery channel 223 of the outletunit 221 in response to exhalation through the mouthpiece unit 219.

In one alternative embodiment the release mechanism 251 could be amanually-actuated unit and the mouthpiece unit 219 omitted.

FIGS. 35 to 41 illustrate a nasal delivery device in accordance with asixth embodiment of the present invention.

The delivery device of this embodiment is very similar to the deliverydevice of the above-described third embodiment, and thus, in order toavoid unnecessary duplication of description, only the differences willbe described in detail, with like reference signs designating likeparts.

The delivery device of this embodiment differs from that of theabove-described third embodiment in the configuration of the nosepiece220 of the nosepiece unit 217.

In this embodiment the tip element 225 of the nosepiece 220 is inclined,in this embodiment upwardly, in the vertical, sagittal plane relative tothe longitudinal axis of the nosepiece 220. As illustrated in FIGS. 40and 41, this configuration is such as to provide for greater deflectionof the upper surface of the nasal cavity relative to the bony andsubstantially rigid structure at the lower surface of the nasal cavity.With this configuration, the tip element 225 of the nosepiece 220 isinserted generally more caudally into the nasal opening, andsubsequently rotated to the correct position by rotation.

Operation of the delivery device is the same as for the above-describedthird embodiment.

FIGS. 42 to 48 illustrate a nasal delivery device in accordance with aseventh embodiment of the present invention.

The delivery device of this embodiment is very similar to the deliverydevice of the above-described third embodiment, and thus, in order toavoid unnecessary duplication of description, only the differences willbe described in detail, with like reference signs designating likeparts.

The delivery device of this embodiment differs from that of theabove-described third embodiment in the configuration of the nosepiece220 of the nosepiece unit 217.

In this embodiment the nosepiece 220 is attached to the housing 215 by aflexible coupling 259, in this embodiment a resilient coupling, whichallows for limited movement of the nosepiece 220 relative to the housing215, which facilitates the fitting of the nosepiece 220 in a nasalcavity of the subject.

Also, in this embodiment the nosepiece 220 includes a lateral gas flowoutlet 261, which is in fluid communication with the delivery channel223 and disposed rearwardly of the distal end thereof, such as to allowfor a gas flow through the delivery channel 223 in the event that thedistal end of the delivery channel 223 becomes obstructed.

Operation of the delivery device is the same as for the above-describedthird embodiment.

FIGS. 49 to 58 illustrate a nasal delivery device in accordance with aneighth embodiment of the present invention.

The delivery device comprises a housing 315, a nosepiece assembly 317for fitting in a nasal cavity of a subject, and a mouthpiece unit 319through which the subject exhales to actuate the delivery device.

The nosepiece assembly 317 comprises a nosepiece 320 which is attachedto the housing 315 and defines a delivery channel 323 which is in fluidcommunication with the mouthpiece unit 319 such that an air flow isdelivered into and through the nasal airway of the subject on exhalationby the subject through the mouthpiece unit 319, and an outlet unit 324which is disposed within the nosepiece 320 for delivering substance intothe nasal airway of the subject.

In this embodiment, as particularly illustrated in FIGS. 50 to 52, thenosepiece 320 is generally frusto-conical in shape and includes a tipelement 325 of asymmetric, elongate section, in having a dimension d1 ina first, sagittal direction which is substantially greater than adimension d2 in a second, lateral direction which is orthogonal to thefirst, sagittal direction. In this embodiment the dimension d1 in thesagittal direction is at least twice that of the dimension d2 in thelateral direction. In one embodiment the dimension d2 in the lateraldirection is not more than 6 mm and more preferably not more than 4 mm.

In this embodiment the tip element 325 extends substantially axially tothe longitudinal axis of the nosepiece 320.

In this embodiment the nosepiece 320 further comprises a sealing element326, in this embodiment a tapered, annular section, which acts both toprovide a seal with the nares of the nostril of the nasal cavity of thesubject and determine the extent of the insertion of the outlet unit 324of the nosepiece assembly 317 into the nasal cavity of the subject. In apreferred embodiment the distal end of the outlet unit 324 is configuredto extend at least about 2 cm, preferably at least about 3 cm, morepreferably at least about 4 cm, and preferably from about 2 cm to about4 cm, into the nasal cavity of the subject.

In this embodiment the nosepiece 320 is formed as a substantially rigidstructure, here formed of a plastics material.

With this configuration, as will be described in more detailhereinbelow, on insertion of the nosepiece 320 into the nasal cavity ofthe subject, the longer, sagittal section of the tip element 325 of thenosepiece 320 becomes aligned in the sagittal plane and acts to engageupper and lower walls of the nasal cavity of the subject and cause theexpansion of the nasal cavity in the vertical, sagittal plane, inparticular the upper wall of the nasal cavity of the subject, which is afleshy structure, as compared to the lower wall of the nasal cavity ofthe subject, which is a relatively-hard structure, and also position thenosepiece 320 in the nasal cavity of the subject, with the lower wall ofthe nasal cavity of the subject, in being a relatively-hard structure,acting as a reference for the expansion.

This expansion further acts to tension the lateral walls of the nasalcavity of the subject which defines the nasal valve, which causes thelateral walls of the nasal cavity to be urged into sealing contact withthe nosepiece 320.

In this embodiment the outlet unit 324 comprises a nozzle 345 fordelivering substance to the nasal airway of the subject.

In this embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 53 to 55, the nozzle 345includes a plurality of nozzle outlets 347 which provide a plurality ofjets as columns of substance, either as a liquid or powder jet.

In this embodiment the nozzle 345 of the outlet unit 324 is configuredto deliver an asymmetric profile, with the jet spray having asignificantly greater spray angle in the vertical, sagittal plane α thanin the horizontal plane β. Such jets have been found to be particularlyadvantageous in the delivery of substance to posterior regions of thenasal cavities, in particular the olfactory region.

In a preferred embodiment the jet spray angle in the vertical, sagittalplane α is greater than about 35°, more preferably greater than about40°, still more preferably greater than about 45° and yet morepreferably greater than about 50°.

In this embodiment the nozzle outlets are aligned in the vertical,sagittal direction and thus the jet angle in the horizontal plane βapproaches 0°. In other embodiments the jet angle in the horizontalplane β is not more than about 35°, more preferably not more than about30°, still more preferably not more than about 25°, yet more preferablynot more than about 20°, still yet more preferably not more than about15°, yet further more preferably not more than about 10° and still yetfurther more preferably not more than about 5°.

In this embodiment the jet spray presents a substantially rectangularspray zone.

The delivery device further comprises a substance supply unit 349 fordelivering metered doses of a substance, in this embodiment an aerosolcanister for delivering metered volumes of a propellant, preferably ahydrofluoroalkane (HFA) propellant or the like, containing medicament,either as a suspension or solution, which is fluidly connected to thenozzle 345 of the outlet unit 324 to deliver substance from thenosepiece assembly 317, in this embodiment as a plurality of liquidjets.

In this embodiment the substance supply unit 349 is a multi-dose unitfor delivering a plurality of metered doses of substance. In anotherembodiment the substance supply unit 349 could be a single-dose unit fordelivering a single metered dose of substance.

The substance supply unit 349 is pre-primeable, in this embodiment byloading a resilient element, and includes a breath-actuated releasemechanism 351 which, when triggered, releases the resilient element andactuates the substance supply unit 349 to deliver a metered dose ofsubstance through the nozzle 345 of the outlet unit 324.

In this embodiment the release mechanism 351 is configured to causeactuation of the substance supply unit 349 on generation of apredetermined flow rate through the delivery channel 323 of thenosepiece 320.

In another embodiment the release mechanism 351 could be configured tocause actuation of the substance supply unit 349 on generation of apredetermined pressure within the delivery channel 323 of the nosepiece320.

In a further embodiment the release mechanism 351 could be configured tocause actuation of the substance supply unit 349 on generation of eitherone of a predetermined flow rate through the delivery channel 323 of thenosepiece 320 or a predetermined pressure within the delivery channel323 of the nosepiece 320.

In an alternative embodiment the substance supply unit 349 couldcomprise a mechanical delivery pump, in particular a liquid deliverypump or a powder delivery pump, which delivers metered doses of asubstance on actuation thereof.

In another alternative embodiment the substance supply unit 239 couldcomprise a dry powder delivery unit which delivers metered doses of asubstance, as a dry powder, on actuation thereof.

In yet another alternative embodiment the substance supply unit 349could comprise a nebulizer which delivers metered doses of a substance,as an aerosol spray, on actuation thereof.

Operation of the delivery device will now be described hereinbelow withreference to FIGS. 56 to 58 of the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 56 and 57, the nosepiece assembly 317 is firstinserted into one of the nasal cavities of a subject until the sealingmember 327 abuts the nares of the nostril of the subject, at which pointthe distal end of the outlet unit 324 typically extends from about 2 cmto about 4 cm into the nasal cavity of the subject, and the mouthpieceunit 319 is then gripped in the lips of the subject.

As illustrated, insertion of the nosepiece 320 into the nasal cavity ofthe subject acts to cause the longer, sagittal section of the tipelement 325 of the nosepiece 320 to become aligned in the sagittal planeand engage upper and lower walls of the nasal cavity of the subject,which engagement causes the expansion of the nasal cavity in thevertical, sagittal plane, in particular the upper wall of the nasalcavity of the subject, which is a fleshy structure, as compared to thelower wall of the nasal cavity of the subject, which is arelatively-hard structure, and also position the nosepiece 320 in thenasal cavity of the subject, with the lower wall of the nasal cavity ofthe subject, in being a relatively-hard structure, acting as a referencefor the expansion. This expansion further acts to tension the lateralwalls of the nasal cavity of the subject which defines the nasal valve,which causes the lateral walls of the nasal cavity to be urged intosealing contact with the nosepiece 320.

Referring to FIG. 58, the subject then begins to exhale through themouthpiece unit 319, which exhalation acts to close the oropharyngealvelum of the subject and drive an air flow through the delivery channel323 of the nosepiece 320, with the air flow passing into the one nasalcavity, around the posterior margin of the nasal septum and out of theother nasal cavity, thereby achieving a bi-directional air flow throughthe nasal airway of the subject.

In this embodiment, when the flow rate developed through the deliverychannel 323 of the nosepiece 320 reaches a predetermined value, therelease mechanism 351 is triggered to actuate the substance supply unit349 to deliver a metered dose of a substance to the nozzle 345 of theoutlet unit 324 and into the nasal cavity of the subject, in thisembodiment as an asymmetric jet spray comprising a plurality of liquidjets. In an alternative embodiment the release mechanism 351 could betriggered on the generation of a predetermined pressure in the deliverychannel 323 of the nosepiece 320.

Following exhalation, the subject then releases the mouthpiece unit 319and the nosepiece assembly 317 is withdrawn from the nasal cavity of thesubject.

In one embodiment, where the delivery device is a single-dose device,the device can be discarded.

In another embodiment, where the delivery device is a multi-dose device,the device is ready for further use following priming of the substancesupply unit 349.

FIGS. 59 to 67 illustrate a nasal delivery device in accordance with aninth embodiment of the present invention.

The delivery device comprises a housing 415, a nosepiece assembly 417for fitting in a nasal cavity of a subject, and a mouthpiece unit 419through which the subject exhales to actuate the delivery device.

The nosepiece assembly 417 comprises a nosepiece 420 which is attachedto the housing 415 and defines a delivery channel 423 which is in fluidcommunication with the mouthpiece unit 419 such that an air flow isdelivered into and through the nasal airway of the subject on exhalationby the subject through the mouthpiece unit 419, and an outlet unit 424which is disposed within the nosepiece 420 for delivering substance intothe nasal airway of the subject.

In this embodiment, as particularly illustrated in FIGS. 60 to 62, thenosepiece 420 comprises a nosepiece member 425 which acts to engage thenasal cavity of the subject and a support member 426 which actsstructurally to support the nosepiece member 425, such as to confer arequired rigidity in the sagittal plane, as will be described in moredetail hereinbelow.

In this embodiment the nosepiece member 425 is generally frusto-conicalin shape and includes a tip element 427 of asymmetric, elongate section,in having a dimension d1 in a first, sagittal direction which issubstantially greater than a dimension d2 in a second, lateral directionwhich is orthogonal to the first, sagittal direction. In this embodimentthe dimension d1 in the sagittal direction is at least twice that of thedimension d2 in the lateral direction. In one embodiment the dimensiond2 in the lateral direction is not more than 6 mm and more preferablynot more than 4 mm.

In this embodiment the tip element 427 extends substantially axially tothe longitudinal axis of the nosepiece 420.

In this embodiment the nosepiece member 425 further includes a sealingelement 428, in this embodiment a tapered, annular section, which actsboth to provide a seal with the nares of the nostril of the nasal cavityof the subject and determine the extent of the insertion of the outletunit 424 of the nosepiece assembly 417 into the nasal cavity of thesubject. In a preferred embodiment the distal end of the outlet unit 424is configured to extend at least about 2 cm, preferably at least about 3cm, more preferably at least about 4 cm, and preferably from about 2 cmto about 4 cm, into the nasal cavity of the subject. In a preferredembodiment the distal end of the outlet unit 424 extends into the bonypart of the nasal valve, or at least as far into the nasal cavity aspossible with the outlet unit 424 aligned with the nasal slit, such thatthe outlet unit 424 targets substance at the upper posterior region ofthe nasal cavity, and in particular the olfactory region.

In this embodiment the nosepiece member 425 is formed as a flexible orsemi-rigid structure, here formed of a plastics material, which allowsthe nosepiece 420 to conform to the nasal cavity of the subject, wherethe nasal cavities of different subjects can differ quite markedly.

In this embodiment the support member 426 confers rigidity to thenosepiece member 425 in both the axial direction, such as to prevent thecollapse of the nosepiece 420 on insertion into the nasal cavity, andthe vertical, sagittal plane along the elongate, sagittal direction ofthe tip element 427 of the nosepiece member 425, such as to enableexpansion of the nasal cavity in the vertical, sagittal plane, as willbe described in more detail hereinbelow.

In this embodiment the support member 426 comprises an elongate plate,here a plastics plate, which extends along a length of the nosepiecemember 425 in the elongate, sagittal direction of the tip element 427 ofthe nosepiece member 425. This plate is flexible in allowing fortorsional flexing, as illustrated in FIG. 63, and flexing over the majorsurface thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 64, but presents a substantiallyrigid structure in the plane of the plate, such as not to allow forflexing in the plane of the plate.

In an alternative embodiment the support member 426 could take the formof a living hinge, which comprises a plurality of rigid elementsinterconnected by flexible elements, which allow for torsional andbending moments.

In this embodiment the outlet unit 424 comprises a nozzle 445 fordelivering substance to the nasal airway of the subject.

In this embodiment the nozzle 445 is attached to the support member 426,and can be integrally formed therewith in one embodiment.

In this embodiment the nozzle 445 is configured to provide an aerosolspray, either as a liquid or powder aerosol.

In an alternative embodiment the nozzle 445 could be configured todeliver a jet as a column of substance, either as a liquid or powderjet.

With this configuration, as will be described in more detailhereinbelow, on insertion of the nosepiece 420 into the nasal cavity ofthe subject, the flexibility of the nosepiece 420 facilitates thelonger, sagittal section of the tip element 427 of the nosepiece member425 in becoming aligned in the sagittal plane and acts to engage upperand lower walls of the nasal cavity of the subject and, by virtue of therigidity of the nosepiece 420 in the sagittal plane, cause the expansionof the nasal cavity in the vertical, sagittal plane, in particular theupper wall of the nasal cavity of the subject, which is a fleshystructure, as compared to the lower wall of the nasal cavity of thesubject, which is a relatively-hard structure, and also position thenosepiece 420 in the nasal cavity of the subject, with the lower wall ofthe nasal cavity of the subject, in being a relatively-hard structure,acting as a reference for the expansion.

This expansion further acts to tension the lateral walls of the nasalcavity of the subject which defines the nasal valve, which causes thelateral walls of the nasal cavity to be urged into sealing contact withthe nosepiece 420.

In this embodiment the nozzle 445 of the outlet unit 424 is configuredto deliver an asymmetric aerosol spray, with the aerosol spray having asignificantly greater spray angle in the vertical, sagittal plane α thanin the horizontal plane β. Such an aerosol spray has been found to beparticularly advantageous in the delivery of substance to posteriorregions of the nasal cavities, in particular the olfactory region.

In a preferred embodiment the spray angle in the vertical, sagittalplane α is greater than about 35°, more preferably greater than about40°, still more preferably greater than about 45° and yet morepreferably greater than about 50°.

In a preferred embodiment the spray angle in the horizontal plane β isnot more than about 35°, more preferably not more than about 30°, stillmore preferably not more than about 25°, yet more preferably not morethan about 20°, and still yet more preferably not more than about 15°.

In this embodiment the aerosol spray presents an elliptical spray zone.

In another embodiment the aerosol spray could present a substantiallyrectangular spray zone.

The delivery device further comprises a substance supply unit 449 fordelivering metered doses of a substance, in this embodiment an aerosolcanister for delivering metered volumes of a propellant, preferably ahydrofluoroalkane (HFA) propellant or the like, containing medicament,either as a suspension or solution, which is fluidly connected to thenozzle 445 of the outlet unit 424 to deliver substance from thenosepiece assembly 417, in this embodiment as an aerosol spray.

In this embodiment the substance supply unit 449 is a multi-dose unitfor delivering a plurality of metered doses of substance. In anotherembodiment the substance supply unit 449 could be a single-dose unit fordelivering a single metered dose of substance.

The substance supply unit 449 is pre-primeable, in this embodiment byloading a resilient element, and includes a breath-actuated releasemechanism 451 which, when triggered, releases the resilient element andactuates the substance supply unit 449 to deliver a metered dose ofsubstance through the nozzle 445 of the outlet unit 424.

In this embodiment the release mechanism 451 is configured to causeactuation of the substance supply unit 449 on generation of apredetermined flow rate through the delivery channel 423 of thenosepiece 420.

In another embodiment the release mechanism 451 could be configured tocause actuation of the substance supply unit 449 on generation of apredetermined pressure within the delivery channel 423 of the nosepiece420.

In a further embodiment the release mechanism 451 could be configured tocause actuation of the substance supply unit 449 on generation of eitherone of a predetermined flow rate through the delivery channel 423 of thenosepiece 420 or a predetermined pressure within the delivery channel423 of the nosepiece 420.

In an alternative embodiment the substance supply unit 449 couldcomprise a mechanical delivery pump, in particular a liquid deliverypump or a powder delivery pump, which delivers metered doses of asubstance on actuation thereof.

In another alternative embodiment the substance supply unit 449 couldcomprise a dry powder delivery unit which delivers metered doses of asubstance, as a dry powder, on actuation thereof.

In yet another alternative embodiment the substance supply unit 449could comprise a nebulizer which delivers metered doses of a substance,as an aerosol spray, on actuation thereof.

Operation of the delivery device will now be described hereinbelow withreference to FIGS. 65 to 67 of the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 65 and 66, the nosepiece assembly 417 is firstinserted into one of the nasal cavities of a subject until the sealingelement 428 of the nosepiece member 425 abuts the nares of the nostrilof the subject, at which point the distal end of the outlet unit 424typically extends from about 2 cm to about 4 cm into the nasal cavity ofthe subject, and the mouthpiece unit 419 is then gripped in the lips ofthe subject.

As illustrated, insertion of the nosepiece 420 into the nasal cavity ofthe subject acts to cause the longer, sagittal section of the tipelement 427 of the nosepiece member 425 to become aligned in thesagittal plane and engage upper and lower walls of the nasal cavity ofthe subject, which engagement causes the expansion of the nasal cavityin the vertical, sagittal plane, in particular the upper wall of thenasal cavity of the subject, which is a fleshy structure, as compared tothe lower wall of the nasal cavity of the subject, which is arelatively-hard structure, and also position the nosepiece 420 in thenasal cavity of the subject, with the lower wall of the nasal cavity ofthe subject, in being a relatively-hard structure, acting as a referencefor the expansion. This expansion further acts to tension the lateralwalls of the nasal cavity of the subject which defines the nasal valve,which causes the lateral walls of the nasal cavity to be urged intosealing contact with the nosepiece 420.

Referring to FIG. 67, the subject then begins to exhale through themouthpiece unit 419, which exhalation acts to close the oropharyngealvelum of the subject and drive an air flow through the delivery channel423 of the nosepiece 420, with the air flow passing into the one nasalcavity, around the posterior margin of the nasal septum and out of theother nasal cavity, thereby achieving a bi-directional air flow throughthe nasal airway of the subject.

In this embodiment, when the flow rate developed through the deliverychannel 423 of the nosepiece 420 reaches a predetermined value, therelease mechanism 451 is triggered to actuate the substance supply unit449 to deliver a metered dose of a substance to the nozzle 445 of theoutlet unit 424 and into the nasal cavity of the subject, in thisembodiment as an asymmetric aerosol spray. In an alternative embodimentthe release mechanism 451 could be triggered on the generation of apredetermined pressure in the delivery channel 423 of the nosepiece 420.

Following exhalation, the subject then releases the mouthpiece unit 419and the nosepiece assembly 417 is withdrawn from the nasal cavity of thesubject.

In one embodiment, where the delivery device is a single-dose device,the device can be discarded.

In another embodiment, where the delivery device is a multi-dose device,the device is ready for further use following priming of the substancesupply unit 449.

Finally, it will be understood that the present invention has beendescribed in its preferred embodiments and can be modified in manydifferent ways without departing from the scope of invention as definedby the appended claims.

For example, in one modification, the nosepieces of the above-describedthird to eighth embodiments could be other than elliptical in section,such as an elongate, triangular section, with the base of the triangledefining a lower edge of the nosepiece.

In another modification the outlet units of the above-describedembodiments could be configured such that the nozzles thereof areextendable in a forward direction following insertion of the nosepieces,for example, in the manner of a telescopic element, such as to extendfurther posterior into the nasal cavity.

In a further modification of the delivery device of theseventh-described embodiment, the flexible coupling 259 can beintegrated with the support member 226 of the nosepiece 220.

FIGS. 68 to 70 illustrate one such embodiment. In this embodiment theflexible coupling 259, the support member 226 and the outlet unit 224are formed as a single, integral unit, typically of a plastics material.In this embodiment the flexible coupling 259 allows for limited axialcompression of the nosepiece 220 by compression of the flexible coupling259 and also allows for limited bending of the support member 226 aboutthe flexible coupling 259, which assist in insertion of the nosepiece220 into the nasal cavity. In this embodiment the upper part of thesupport member 226 is still substantially rigid in the plane thereof,such as to provide for vertical, sagittal expansion of the nasal cavity,in particular the collapsed region at the upper, lateral wall of thenasal cavity.

In an alternative embodiment the flexible coupling 259 could have asimpler geometric shape, in one example as a section of the supportmember 226 of reduced thickness, which confers the limitedcompressibility and flexibility to the flexible coupling 259, but yetwhich confers the required rigidity to the support member 226, inparticular the upper part thereof, as to achieve the vertical, sagittalexpansion of the nasal cavity.

REFERENCES

1. Cole, P, The Respiratory Role of the Upper Airways, a selectiveclinical and pathophysiological review. 1993, Mosby-Year Book Inc.ISBN1.55664-390-X.

2. Rosenberger, H, Growth and Development of the Naso-Respiratory Areain Childhood, PhD Thesis, Laboratory of Anatomy, School of Medicine,Western Reserve University, Presented to the Annual Meeting of theAmerican Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society,Charleston, S.C., USA, 1934.

3. Zacharek, M A et al, Sagittal and Coronal Dimensions of the EthmoidRoof: A Radioanatomic Study, Am J Rhinol 2005, Vol 19, pages 348 to 352.

1. A nasal delivery device for delivering substance to a nasal cavity ofa subject, the delivery device comprising: a nosepiece unit including anosepiece for fitting to a nostril of a subject and a nozzle throughwhich substance is in use delivered, preferably substantially axially toa longitudinal axis of the nosepiece, to the respective nasal cavity,wherein at least a tip element of the nosepiece has, at least in oneconfiguration, an elongate lateral section which has a longer dimensionin a first, sagittal direction than a second direction orthogonal to thesagittal direction, such that, when the nosepiece is inserted in thenasal cavity of the subject, the longer dimension of the nosepiece actsto engage lower and upper surfaces of the nasal cavity and expand thesame in the sagittal plane; and a delivery unit for delivering substancethrough the nozzle of the nosepiece.